Pakistan want to host ICC event in 2018

Hong Kong, June 29 (IANS) Pakistan, a no-go zone for international cricket teams since an attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to host a major event in 2018.ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said Wednesday that the executive board noted a request from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider hosting an ICC event in 2018. No discussion was held and no assurances were given as the ICC has no confirmed event currently scheduled for 2018.'We fully understand the PCB request and we will consider if it is possible to host an event in Pakistan subject to the standard safety and security clearances,' said Lorgat.The ICC executive board also reviewed the comprehensive report submitted by Pakistan Task Team (PTT).The committee made 63 recommendations covering the key areas of governance, cricket administration, playing structure, financial viability and communications.The PTT comprises Giles Clarke (chairman), Mike Brearley, Peter Chingoka, Haroon Lorgat (ICC Chief Executive), Ranjan Madugalle, Ramiz Raja, and David Richardson (ICC General Manager-Cricket).Lorgat thanked the PTT members and the PCB for their constructive engagement during the past two years.'The report was adopted unanimously by the ICC Board and I am pleased that the PCB will consider this report at its next Board meeting,' he said

Read More

Imran backs ICC ban on government meddling

KARACHI: Pakistan's legendary former captain Imran Khan on Thursday welcomed a decision from cricket's governing body to ban political appointments, calling for a total revamp of the national board.The ICC executive board on Thursday gave cricket boards 12 months to implement free elections and another 12-month grace period to enact the changes before any sanctions would be considered.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), whose chairman Ijaz Butt was appointed by the president, was not immediately reachable for comment but it has threatened legal action in the past if the constitution is changed.Khan, one of Pakistan's most vocal opposition politicians and who founded the Tehrik-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice) after retiring from cricket in 1992, welcomed the amendment.He said that the PCB now had a chance to become a real institution if the system was overhauled."The amendment will help Pakistan as there is no transparency and accountability in the current set-up," Khan told "But to gain full benefit, Pakistan must fix the cricket structure with a new constitution on regional grounds where officials are elected."Khan said the changes could allow Pakistan to perform better."If we have our cricket structure right, Pakistan has more talent than anywhere in the world, and we will dominate the world," said Khan, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup title in 1992.Former PCB chairman Arif Abassi said reform had long been needed.
"I resigned in 1996 because there was uncalled for government interference when I wanted to make the PCB a private company with shares," said Abassi.Abassi said the ICC was after Pakistan after a slew of public irregularities and said: "It's now time we find the right people to overhaul our system and who know how to do it," he said.But fellow former PCB chief Khalid Mahmood rejected the ICC imposition as a violation of Pakistan's independence."The ICC has no business to tell us how to run our cricket," said Mahmood, calling for legal action if necessary."We must resist on this and although legal action is the last resort, one has to back it because we have to draw a line on sovereignty," said Mahmood.Former spinner Iqbal Qasim thought Pakistan would have trouble in enacting the change."While other Boards like England and Australia have a proper system, Pakistan will face some problems in implementing the change and they will need to overhaul the system from grass-root level," said Qasim."We need to think out a proper plan, be it with the government's help, to implement the change in two years."Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are also directly affected by the amendment as their cricketing affairs are similarly run on government directives.

Read More

No meddling: ICC tells governments

HONG KONG: Cricket's governing body on Thursday banned countries from appointing politicians to national cricket boards, vowing to free the sport from undue government influence.The International Cricket Council told a media conference in Hong Kong that it had made the decision to uphold "the important principle of free elections and the independence" of the sport."It was agreed that all member boards must implement the provisions before annual conference June 2012 and a further 12 months -- to June 2013 -- would be allowed before any sanctions be considered," the ICC said in a statement issued in Hong Kong.The reform, which allows the ICC to suspend a member country in the event of government interference in the running of a national cricket board, will be hugely controversial in Pakistan, where the president is the cricket board's patron. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will also be hit by the change.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could not immediately be reached for comment.Chairman Ijaz Butt has been criticised by former players, politicians and media for being a political appointee of the ruling Pakistan People's Party.The PCB has already sent a legal notice to the ICC on the amendment and has threatened legal action if the constitution is changed.The decision was taken at a meeting of the ICC's full council after four days of talks between the chief executives' committee and executive board at glitzy hotels in downtown Hong Kong."This is a significant step towards achieving best practice and together with the independent governance review, I am excited by the commitment of the ICC to introduce best possible corporate governance," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.

Read More